Tuesday. [I John 3:11–20; Mark 14:10–42]

Saint Peter so enthusiastically insisted that he would not reject the Lord; but when it came down to it, he denied Him, and three times no less. Such is our weakness! Do not rely upon yourself, and when you enter into the midst of enemies, place all your hope to overcome them on the Lord. For this purpose such a fall was allowed to such a great person—so that afterwards nobody would dare on his own to do something good or to overcome some enemy, either inner or outer. You must hope in the Lord, but not stop trying. Help from the Lord joins our efforts, and thus makes them powerful. If these efforts are not there, God’s help has nowhere to descend, and it will not descend. But again, if you are filled with self-reliance, and consequently you have no need for help and seek no help—again, God’s help will not descend. How is it to descend when it is considered unnecessary?! Neither, in this case, is there anything with which to receive it. It is received by the heart. The heart opens up to receive through a feeling of need. So both the former and the latter are needed. Say, “Help, O God!” But don’t just lie around.

Wednesday. [I John 3:21–4:6; Mark 14:43–15:1]

If help is needed, ask. “I asked,” you say, “and it was not given.” But then how is it given to others? With the Lord there is no respect of persons; to give to one, and not to give to another without any reason. He is ready to give to all—for He loves to be giving. If He does not give to someone, the reason is not in Him, but in the one asking help. Among such reasons can be some that we cannot even guess. But there exist known reasons, visible to anyone. One of these reasons (and is it not the chief reason?) Saint John points out to be the absence of confidence, and the absence of confidence comes from the condemnation of the heart or the conscience. Beloved, he says, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight (I John 3:21). There is nothing more to add to these words. Everything is clear in and of itself. What master will help an unfaithful servant, a squanderer and profligate? Will the Lord really indulge us when we do not want to please Him and fulfil His commandments; if we only start praying when an extreme need arises?!